1996 Chevrolet Cavalier Steering Problems

THIS CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING LIKE THE GM CARS BEING MENTIONED IN THE NEWS TODAY. STARTED IN 2005 AND WAS EVALUATED BY MULTIPLE MECHANICS INCLUDING A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP THAT KEPT IT OVER A MONTH. IT DOESN'T SHOW A CODE WHEN IT HAPPENS. IT RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING (VARIED SPEEDS). IT ALSO RANDOMLY WON'T START. TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE WHEN IT WILL QUIT ON YOU OR NOT START.RESETTING DID NOT HELP.CAR WAS PURCHASED FOR DAUGHTER (NEW DRIVER) TO DRIVE, BUT WAS TOO UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10567934

Incident

Oct 4, 2006

Mileage

40,000 mi

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WHILE HAVING THE 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED. *MR RECALL CAMPAIGN#02V286000. THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING MECHANISM, THE IGNITION AND THE AIR BAG. *SC THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT NONE OF THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE EVER MADE ON THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10124784

Incident

Jun 3, 2005

RECALL CAMPAIGN: POWER STEERING GEAR RECALL. *NM THE CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY KEEPING THE STEERING FROM WANDERING AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS DONE, THE CONSUMER HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR. RECALL# 02V286000. *SC AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALER 3 TIMES THE RACK AND PINION WAS FINALLY REPLACED IN WHICH THE CONSUMER STATED SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10111096

Incident

Jan 12, 2005

NHTSA RECALL 02V286000, AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED ON A RECALL FOR RACK AND PINION THE POWER STEERING WAS STILL DEFECTIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10101392

Incident

Nov 16, 2004

Mileage

111,447 mi

NHTSA RECALL 02V286000 CONCERNING POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY. AFTER HAVING THE LOWER PINION BEARING REPLACED CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN LEFT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10099341

Incident

Oct 25, 2004

MY 1996 CHEVY CAVALIER, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP , WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON A BUSY ROAD.I TOTALLY LOST POWER AND I PULLED OVER, AFTER ALMOST BEING HIT BY SEVERAL OTHER CARS. THIS IS ANOTHER MAJOR CONCERN FOR THIS VECHILE.GM, SHOULD INQUIRE MORE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM!

NHTSA ID

10053074

Incident

Jan 3, 2004

Mileage

61,199 mi

I PURCHASED A 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS FROM ADVANCED CARE CARE INC IN ORLANDO FLORIDA 9-23-03 THIS CAR IS A LEMON. LIST OF PROBLEMS WITH IT (WAS SOLD TO ME TELLING ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT ). *AK PROBLEMS IVE PAID TO FIX SO FAR ENGINE REPLACED HEAD JOB (BLOWN HEAD GASKET) 02 SENSOR TWICE ECM COMPUTER TWICE COIL PACK- 3 TIMES ICM 5 TIMES ENGINE STRUT TRANSMOUNT FRONT ENGINE MOUNT BRAKES ROTORS MAIN ROD BEARINGS CATALYTIC CONVERTOR THEY ARE NOW SAYING IT NEEDS ANOTHER ENGINE THAT THE CRANKSHAFT IS BAD , IT IS POURING OUT OIL, I CANT GO PAST 3 RPMS IT HAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION THAT HAS ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS THE CAR HAS A STALLING PROBLEM AS WELL WHICH HAS ALMOST COSTED ME AND MY SON OUR LIFE. ADVANCED CAR CARE INC (SILVERSTAR ROAD) IN ORLANDO FLORIDA SOLD ME THIS CAR NOTIFYING ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. I HAVE ALREADY PAID 7,000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AND THE CAR IS EVEN MORE MESSED UP THAN WHAT IT WAS. EVERYTIME I PAY FOR SOMETHING TO BE FIXED SOMETHING ELSE WRONG SHOWS UP... I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANICS WERE ALL SHOCKED AT THIS CAR. THEY SD THE HAVE NEVER SEEN A CAR BUILT THIS MESSED UP BEFORE. THE COMPUTER WAS SHOOTING OUT 13 DIFFERENT CODES. THIS IS A LEMON CAR. I NEED IT FIXED OR REPLACED ALSO S & S AUTOMOTIVE IN APOPKA FLORIDA CHARGED ME 1,515 IN REPAIRS WHICH THEY NEVER GAVE ME A WRITTEN QUOTE OR EVEN ON THE PHONE. THEY LIED TO ME ABOUT PARTS BEING NEW WHEN THEY WERE USED. THEY INSTALLED MY CATALYTIC CONVERTOR WRONG AS WELL. THEY DID WORK AND LABOR TO THE CAR AND CHARGED ME FOR IT WITHOUT MY CONCENT.. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR AND I TEST DROVE IT I WAS SHOCKED THAT NOW THE CRANK SHAFT IS ALL OF A SUDDEN BAD AND IT WILL COST ME 2,000 THERE OR 5,000 AT THE DEALERSHIP. I AM A SINGLE MOM AND I DONT EVEN HAVE A DOLLAR TO MY NAME RIGHT NOW. COULDNT BUY MY SON ANY GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS AFTER PAYING ALL OF THESE CAR BILLS AND NOW IM STUCK WITH THIS LEMON OF A CAR .

NHTSA ID

10051139

Incident

Dec 17, 2003

Mileage

100 mi

I READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT ALL THE GM STEERING STUFF AND I JUST WANTED TO WRITE MY COMPLAINT, MY STEERING LOOKED UP ON ME CAUSING ME TO RUN OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE WHICH FLIPPED MY CAR OVER AND TOTALLED OUT MY CAR. I JUST THINK THAT IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT GM NEEDS TO FIX BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED OR HURT LIKE ME.

NHTSA ID

10039447

Incident

Sep 17, 2003

FUEL PUMP SEAL DISINTEGRATED. COST $1,081.00 (INCLUDING 3 DAY CAR RENTAL). EARLIER THIS YEAR THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND I WOUND UP PAYING AN ADDITIONAL $600 FOR OTHER DEFECTS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THINK THAT THIS AND MANY ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ON THIS CAR CONSTITUTE IT BEING A LEMON. MORE THAN 5 RECALLS IN 7 YEARS. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023976

Incident

Jun 16, 2003

Mileage

39,500 mi

WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CAMPAIGN # 02V28600 WITH THE SUBJECT POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER CHEVROLET. THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER THAT RECALL AND A GM REPRESENTATIVE WOULD MAKE CONTACT AND TEST THE VEHICLE. THE GM REPRESENTATIVE CALLED THE CONSUMER AND STATED THAT THE RECALL PART WOULD BE FIXED BUT NO OTHER ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10017448

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE UP, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL, THE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER A NEW RACK AND PINION WAS NEEDED.MR *TS *JB

NHTSA ID

10015862

Incident

Oct 16, 2002

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE STEERING RACK & PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10014962

THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. HAD THE RACK AND PINION UNIT REPLACED BEFORE RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE.

NHTSA ID

10011143

Incident

Aug 15, 2002

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NO PARTS AVAILABLE REGARDING THE RACK AND PINION, RECALL # 02 V 286 000. *JB

NHTSA ID

10008805

Incident

Feb 19, 2003

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT SERVICED FOR THE STEERING COLUMN RECALL 02 V 286 000 . AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE APART INDICATED THAT THE PARTS WEREN'T AVAILABLE AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE. PH

NHTSA ID

10006741

Incident

Feb 4, 2003

NHTSA#02-V-286-000 CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE. CONSUMER STATES HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA ID

10004145

Incident

Jan 17, 2003

I HAVE A 1996 CHEVY CAVALIER VIN # [XXX] THAT HAD SOME VERY SERIOUS STEERING PROBLEMS 1 YEAR AGO. THE CAR ACTED LIKE THE POWER STEERING UNIT QUIT OR WOULD ONLY ALLOW YOU TO TURN TO THE RIGHT. IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE WE COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE ANYMORE. WE HAD IT REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1500. I THEN LEARNED OF A CAMPAIGN, #02V286000, THAT LISTED THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT MY CAR WAS HAVING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU COULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THAT VEHICLE OR IF MY CAR WAS ACTUALLY COVERED FOR THIS POSSIBLE RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10002856

Incident

Jun 5, 2000

Mileage

54,000 mi

POWER STEERING FAILED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. HAD PROBLEM FIXED FIRST TIME DEALER WANTS TO TOTAL VEHICLE SECOND TIME. GM DID NOT OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM. SAID CAR DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL PERIOD, EVEN THOUGH PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN OCCURRING FREQUENTLY. *TS **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770164

NHTSA ID

10009413

Incident

Jun 23, 2000

Mileage

100,000 mi

CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE A VEHICLE CRASH. MANUFACTURE HAS BEEN CONTACTED PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

8023119

NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM VEHICLE .TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE IT ANALIZED. LEAK WAS COMING FROM RACK AND PINION STEERING, WHICH TOTALLY DAMAGED VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT THIS MILEAGE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8016302

Incident

Aug 12, 2002

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED STEERING TO LOCK UP AT 10 MPH. MANUFAUCTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8015734

Incident

Aug 1, 2002

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING WAS UNABLE TO STOP, THERE WERE NO BRAKES, ALSO VEHICLE WOULD MAKE LOUD SOUNDS AND THEN STALL, CONSUMER WAS ALWAYS BEING TOLD BY DELAERSHIP THAT IT WAS A SENSOR AND THE FUEL FILTER WHICH WAS ALWAYS BEING REPLACED, BUT NEVER RESOLVED THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER IT WAS FINALLY DETERMINED BY A MANAGER AT THE CHEVROLET SHOP THAT THE MANUFACTURER PROGRAMMED THE AIR CONDITIONER TO BE ON AT ALL TIMES, WHICH CAUSED THESE MALFUNCTIONS AS WELL AS BURNING OUT THE CARBURETOR, THE MANAGER FIXED THE DIAL SO THE A/C WOULD NOT BE ON, BUT STILL INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT NEEDED TO BE PROPERLY REPROGRAMMED, CONSUMER HAS NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURES SINCE THE DIAL WAS READJUSTED, CONSUMER HAS OBTAINED LEGAL REPRESENATION AND FEELS SHE SHOULD NOT BE HELD FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMETHING THAT THE MANUFACUTER CREATED.*JB

NHTSA ID

562669

Incident

Feb 17, 1998

THE STEERING STARTED VERY GRADUALLY AND WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. IT GOT SO BAD BEFORE WE HAD TO REPAIR IT THAT YOU COULD NOT STEER AT ALL TO THE LEFT. WHEN I APPROACHED THE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THEM TO HELP WITH THE COST OF THE REPAIR THEY SAID KNOW. AFTER THE REPAIR WA COMPLETED I TALKED OT THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT PERFORMED THE REPAIR AND HE INDICATED THAT HE REPLACES THIS ON A LOT OF GM VEHICLES INCLUDING CAVALIERS. I AM REQUESTING THAT GM BE MADE AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM AND PUT A CAMPAIGN TOGETHER TO REPAIR ANY VEHICLE INCLUDING MY OWN WITH PARTS AND LABOR COSTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

748037

Incident

Jul 3, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

747359

Incident

Jun 17, 2001

IN COLD WEATHER STEERING BECOMES HARD AND UNMANAGEABLE. CHEVROLET WAS CONTACTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND 4 ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, ALL WITH NO AVAIL. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE GARAGE FOR 4 MONTHS NOT IN USE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT A PART WILL FAIL AND COST ME AN ACCIDENT OR EVEN MY LIFE. THANKS STEVE LEHST. *AK

NHTSA ID

740017